John Lennon. 30 years later.

[HBM]

I didn't realise this but John Lennon died 30 years ago yesterday. I wondered why so many Lennon songs were being played last night on the radio and this morning I found out why.

I was never a big fan of the Beatles. I just didn't think they were that good and think they are very overrated compared to other bands. But Lennon on the other hand I loved. He had more talent in his little finger than the other 3 guys IMO.

WOW. Has it been that long?

What do you guys think of Lennon?

[Old HBM account]

Dec 9, 2010 9:47:52 GMT 10 HBM said:

I was never a big fan of the Beatles. I just didn't think they were that good and think they are very overrated compared to other bands.

Mate, when you look at the Beatles body of work in the time they were together, no other band comes close.

Anyway, Lennon was incredible. You read stories of him and McCartney punching out entire songs for bands the likes of The Rolling Stones in a ridiculous amount of time - like 20 minutes. When they returned with the song completed, either Ronnie Wood or Keith Richards (sorry, can't remember who) asked if they'd forgotten something and they handed over a brand new song, written from scratch, which the Stones recorded. Amazing. They were song writing machines. You have to remember that they were doing stuff like Strawberry Fields, Day in the Life and I am the Walrus at a time when John Farnham was singing "Sadie the cleaning lady".

Lennon's solo work has aged well. Stuff like Gimme Some Truth still has an edge to it and his songs had a brutal honesty that shone through. Kind of gotta admire someone who will out himself completely out there too. Basically, it looked as though he was the only one in the world who liked Yoko, but he was never going to back away from it.

So yeah, loved Lennon

[rf]

Never a big fan of the beetles or John Lennon
Though his Rock and Roll Album was excellent I cant be bothered listening to anything else he or the beetles have done

Dare I say the Beetles have dated very quickly

[HBM]

Dec 9, 2010 10:12:29 GMT 10 Old HBM account said:

Mate, when you look at the Beatles body of work in the time they were together, no other band comes close.

Their music just doesn't appeal to me. I've tried but just can't see the fascination. Sure they were a good band and had some really good tracks but I won't give them the praise of best ever. If their songs were a bit more ballsy I'd probably like them a bit more. I guess you could put it down to personal taste.

Dec 9, 2010 10:12:29 GMT 10 Old HBM account said:

Lennon's solo work has aged well. Stuff like Gimme Some Truth still has an edge to it and his songs had a brutal honesty that shone through. Kind of gotta admire someone who will out himself completely out there too. Basically, it looked as though he was the only one in the world who liked Yoko, but he was never going to back away from it.

So yeah, loved Lennon

Everyone still hates Yoko 30 years on.

My personal favourite is Working Class Hero

[RECKY]

I was at kapooka doing army stuff, when the sarge came in and told us lennon had been murdered....elvis, I got...but 6 or 8 shots in the back....it truly sucked

[MrX]

Not a big fan to be honest.
A couple of songs are listenable, but don't really grab me.
The Rolling Stones IMO are a superior performing band.
I'm sure Lennon & McCartney are great prolific songwriters, but their performances are not my bag.

I like my rock & roll with more attitude:
Led Zeppelin
The Doors
Little Richard
James Brown
Tom Waits

[dragon]

I have a Lennon greatest hits on my iPod, and I reckon I skip 75% of them when they come on. Though the ones I will listen to, I think are tremendous songs. But for the most part, I just don't see the overall appeal of him.

[RECKY]

well....i got most of the beatles stuff....the two vids...Imagine and the US vs John Lennon and a lennon hits cd....I have more preferred bands from that era ie: the stones , Purple, etc...but i think the thread was more about him getting murdered than whether his back catalogue tickles ya fancy or not....just saying

[nath]

Never a big fan of either Lennon or The Beatles, but I do know this. They are responsible for inspiring and motivating some of the greatest acts of the last 30 years.

The Black Crowes, Bon Jovi, Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Oasis, Soundgarden, yes.. I ran through Wikipedia, have all done covers. Every one has covered " Across the Universe " while Lennon and Co. remain the biggest influence over Brit-Pop music, and if not the biggest potential influence over GOOD modern song writing.

Not just music, but pop culture. They've had a massive impact on popular culture, be it the 1960s or 2010. I doubt there will be any other band to achieve this, or in The Beatles absence, would have.

[dangergein]

Lennon was my favourite member of my favourite band. Personally I think the Beatles are untouchable, but I'm not going to defend them here because really, they don't need defending.

Very sad day. Chapman was a lunatic who robbed the world.